Early arrivals are the talk of the town

The flutter of orange wings flies by you, giving you a quick pause, but it seems too early. Could it be a monarch?

For some nature lovers across the United States this spring, the answer has been, “Yes," as several states have had their first monarch sightings far in advance of previous years. 

Gary in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, reported a monarch on April 23, writing that the arrival was “very early here.”

Gary would be correct. Last year’s first report of a monarch adult in Pennsylvania was on May 1, 2024, in Newport.

In Highville, Pennsylvania, Gayle also reported 12 eggs in three locations along the Enola Low Grade Trail. 

Ohio’s first report also came on May 1 last year. This year, we already have a couple of dots on the map, including one in Milford, where Stephen submitted a photo of a monarch laying eggs on small shoots of swamp milkweed on April 19.

On April 28, Stephen reported those eggs beginning to hatch for the first time!

Looking at Ohio’s neighbors to the west, Indiana had its first report of eggs on April 17, with Michelle reporting them “everywhere on common milkweed.”

In Iowa, we received our first monarch report on April 21 in Des Moines.

“Fluttering around my yard this evening,” Laura wrote. “I didn’t see it land on any flowers, but lots of blooms in my neighborhood. I also have milkweed now up to 3” tall.”

That report comes eight days earlier than last year’s first report in the Hawkeye State, an April 29 report from Oskaloosa.

A couple more reports have followed Laura’s in the area surrounding Iowa’s capital city, but there are still some big gaps in the map between Des Moines and areas further south, where there have yet to be sightings. There is still a lot of time this spring for the map to fill in more as more monarchs travel north.

Along the East Coast, we have our first sightings from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as mentioned earlier. But the big clusters of sightings are in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

“This is quite early for this area,” wrote Dean in Rockville, Maryland, on April 23. “I just watched a monarch butterfly laying eggs on 6” high common and showy milkweed in my butterfly gardens.”

“I’ve never seen a monarch butterfly this early in the spring in southern Delaware,” wrote Maureen in Lewes, reporting a female laying eggs on common milkweed on April 20.        

Where to next?

Monarchs typically follow milkweed. After all, it’s required to feed their larvae. They also require nectar and warm enough temperatures, but if milkweed reports are any indication, monarchs have some ground to cover whenever the rest of the conditions catch up.

We have milkweed reports from up the East Coast as far north as New Hampshire, in Ontario, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the Midwest, and British Columbia and Saskatchewan further west.

“Even though the weather has been crazy this spring, the timing is right on schedule,” wrote Tim in Palmer, Massachusetts, reporting common milkweed on April 29.

“After a cool spring, I’m seeing a few milkweeds pop up here and there,” wrote Debra in Middletown, Rhode Island. “None that were planted by seed, though.”

We’ll see how soon those milkweed reports turn into monarch reports as the calendar turns to May.

“And let it begin,” wrote Sheryl in Brampton, Ontario, on April 27, reporting “two milkweed sprouts pushing through the wood chips.”

Whether you’re seeing monarchs, milkweed, or any other signs of spring that you enjoy, let us know by reporting your observations to Journey North.